Govt to appoint board, corporation heads after polls in three states

CHANDIGARH : In a meeting between Congress national president Rahul Gandhi and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh in New Delhi on Thursday it was decided to appoint some MLAS and other party leaders as heads of state boards and corporations in December, soon after the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh get over.

Rahul is learnt to have told Amarinder not to delay the appointments beyond December, as the move has already been held up for 20 months after the Congress formed government in the state with party leaders raising dissenting voices.

The move will be taken with a view to assuaging the two- or three-time MLAS who were not given ministerial berths or leaders denied party tickets in the 2017 assembly polls.

There are nearly 25 vacant posts of heads at the Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation (PSIEC), Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC), Infotech, Punseed, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, PUNSUP, Sewerage Board, Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC), Backfinco, Punjab Finance Corporation (PFC), Punjab Agro Food Corporation, Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited, Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), Poultry Development Corporation, Agro Industries Corporation, Agro Export Corporation, Ex-servicemen Corporation, Forest Corporation and the Khadi Board among others.

Other than heads, the government will also name at least 100 party leaders as members of these bodies. Going against the past practice of the party, seven to ten MLAS are likely to be adjusted this time.

The Punjab government has notified the Punjab State Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) (Amendment) Act, 2018, commonly known as “office of profit” Act, which means any MLAS who becomes head of a board or a corporation would not get salary from the position given him/her and would draw salary as entitlement as legislator only.

In the past, a worker getting party ticket was considered as having been rewarded while after getting elected as MLA would further reduce the chances of appointment for a government body.

The issue was raised before Rahul who gave nod for adjusting some MLAS as heads of boards and corporations.

Later, Rahul held a meeting with Amarinder, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, and former Rajasthan CM and AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot whom the party chief had given the task of talking to Dalit Punjab MLAS who were unhappy over their inadequate representation in the state cabinet. Gehlot told Rahul he will file report in this regard later as he was pre-occupied due to the upcoming assembly polls in his state.

DON’T DELAY THE APPOINTMENTS BEYOND DECEMBER, RAHUL TELLS AMARINDER IN A MEETING IN DELHI

PUNJAB LEADERS TO CAMPAIGN IN RAJ POLLS

Congress leaders from Punjab, including the CM, will campaign in 25 constituencies of Rajasthan in the upcoming assembly polls. Former CM Gehlot discussed the seats leaders from Punjab are expected to hold sway over as the state has considerable pollution of Punjabi speakers.